5A: (1) ThunderRidge 21, (4) Grandview 7

HIGHLANDS RANCH — It's early. It's only Week 3 and, as Colorado is well aware, there's a program called Valor Christian out there.

However, ThunderRidge obviously is playing some of the best football in Class 5A.

On Friday night, in The Denver Post game of the week and a matchup that was televised and featured by the Broncos, the Grizzlies again took down one of Colorado's elite teams. They handled Aurora's Grandview 21-7 in 5A nonleague at Shea Stadium with a complete effort, contributions from multiple areas and what clearly are among the top offensive lines and defensive units in the state.

"The offensive line has been lights out," Grizzlies coach Joe Johnson said. "And we haven't had that kind of defense around here in a while."

Johnson, a veteran who hates having his players hear how great they are, can't do much about it at this point. ThunderRidge opened the season with a sound defeat of 4A challenger Dakota Ridge, controlled Ralston Valley, a 2012 5A semifinalist, and went toe-to-toe with the Wolves, who always bring talent whenever they step onto the field.

Now 3-0 and ranked No. 1 in the CHSAANow.com 5A media and coaches poll, the Grizzlies opened with two scoring drives before riding it out against the No. 4 Wolves, who fell to 2-1.

Matt Stanley paced the Grizzlies with 158 yards rushing on a workmanlike 28 carries and found the end zone twice, mostly behind a left side that includes top tackle Sam Jones and center Brandan Chase.

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"We wanted to run the ball," said the 6-foot, 205-pound Stanley, who scored on runs of 5 and 2 yards, "and we had a lot of great blocks."

ThunderRidge established superiority up front early, handled the Wolves' speed and rode a defense that didn't permit a score until less than five minutes remained.

In between, the Grizzlies, behind quarterback Brody Westmoreland's scorching start — 6-of-7 for 156 yards — and a front wall that more than matched Grandview's speed and quickness, controlled the tempo. The Wolves, coming off a shutout in Week 2, hadn't permitted a point since their opening defensive series of the year, against Horizon.

And on defense, all Grandview could muster while in possession was a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Smith to Isaiah Lang.

Grandview's other possessions were: a missed field goal, two punts, an interception in the end zone and three more punts.

"They're very athletic," Johnson said of the Wolves. "Defensively, they haven't given up very many, I can tell you that ... but we were good up front and that's something you can hang your hat on. We need to keep the running game going."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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